The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-11

CONDONINa CRIME.
cess.

CUNDUN1Nd CRlME.
The Sentinel condemns the holding of
public meeting ''to arouse popular feeling
against certain citizens of the community
The reference is to the citizens meeting of
Wednesday nigh. relative to the tally sheet
forgeries, and the "citizens of the community"
for whom the Sentinel speaks are the perpe-
when a man steals horse in this COM
munity or butchers his wife and children, it
is not deemed necessary to call public meet
ings in order to force the grand jury or the
prosecutor to take action. The
public meeting to affect the action of court
is wholly contrary to good public policy
Not so contrary to good public policy, we
think, is forging tally sheets in an election.
| The comparison cited by the Sentinel does not
hold. If man steals horse or butchers his
wife, the detectives and officers of the law are
| interested in hunting him down and bringing
him to justice. In this case they are not.
In the former case there is no question of
|
crime does not have the backing and support
of considerable portion of one party aiding
and abetting his crime and trying
to shield him from punishment. Ex-
perience has proved repeatedly that
unless good citizens combine to expose
and punish election frauds it will not be DONE
| MI Sc
difficult to accomplish, as witness the expert
ence Of Cincinnati Chicago and other cities.
In the present case nothing would have been
done but for the citizens movement and the
Committee of One Hundred and they have
been bitterly fought at every step. Look at
the formidable array Of lawyers which the
defendants have had; could any horse-thief
or wife murderer have employed so many'
And around and behind the lawyers was q
large portion of the Democratic party, pre-
pared to do anything and everything neces-
sary to shield the culprits When a false and
depraved public sentiment Of this kind exists
in favor of crime and criminals, it is high
enforcement of law. There is strong com
bination for the protection of the tally sheet
forgers, and this necessitates a combination
for their exposure and punishment
It augurs we'll for the success of the move
ment that it is headed by men of opposite
politics, and is directed against the perpetra
tors Of the frauds not as partisans but as
criminals. At the meeting Wednesday night
Republican and Democratic speakers both EN-
phasized the fact that this was not proceed
ing of one party against another, but o.
honest men against criminals 1t was not
question of politics, but of crime. Mr.. Hen
derson said it is not question of party Of
politics at all, but of crime. Mr.. Fishback
deprecating the introduction of party politics
in the movement told how some years agt
certain Republicans were charged with perpe
tratng election frauds and the prosecution
failed because it was made partisan affair
Even the jury was equally divided between
Republicans and Democrats, and stood tn
same way III tneir unuluS In Otner WOrQS
, they did not agree. Another cas-
was cited of prosecution in tn
| United States court at Cincinnati, wher
, the judge refused to allow the question o
politics to enter any juryman to be asked
/ whether he was Republican or Democrat
, He said this was question of crime not o
, politics, and it was an insult to his court t.
ask man his politics. The trial was con
Quoted that principle, and resulted in
conviction. The same principle should rul
in this case No question of party polite
should be allowed to be introduced at an
stage of the proceedings. What the com
munity needs. and what all honest men shout
DESIRE is a vigorous enforcement Of the la,
and prosecution of crime without reference
politics, and if the suspected parties are foun
9 guilty, let the verdict establish preceden
, that will stand as terror to evil doors Of bot
parties.
IT is likely that Green Smith will be az
t pointed United States district attorney. Hi
. appointment is sort Of political necessity